Method of pulverizing and alloying nickel



Patented Aug. 14, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAI- B. VEAZEY, OI CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE DOW cumu- OAL COMPANY, 01' MIDLAND, MICHIGAN, A. CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

METHOD OF PU'LVERIZING AND ALLOYING NICKEL.

1T0 Drawing.

As is well known, pure nickel although very hard may be easily rolled out into thin th plates and drawn into wire. It accordingl is a more or less diflicult matter by orinary processes to reduce the metal to a pulverulent state as is desirable where it is to be employed as a constituent of an alloy which comprises also another metal such as magnesium which has a low speclfic gravity and which melts at a much lower temperature.

One object of the present mvention accordingly is the provision of a method for pulverizing metallic nickel or reducing 1t substantially to powdered form, in whlch form it is adapted for use in various ways and for different purposes. Another specific object is the utilization of such pulver ulent nickel in the production of so-called white metal alloys wherein magnesium is a preponderating constituent.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the steps hereinafter fully descr bed and particularl pointed out in the claims, the following escription setting forth but one of several ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In carrying out my present improved procedure, the metallic nickel which I employ may be either in the form of spherical particles known commercially as shot, or in the form of broken fragments or in the form of wire. A quantity of such nickel, for example nickel shot, is placed in a suitable melting' crucible or ladle and there heated together with a quantity of magnesium metal to a point where the magnesium becomes molten, but not much above the temperature necessary for this purpose, so that the magnesium is not vaporized and so that the dan er of its becoming ignited is minimized. he amount of magnesium will be such as to cover the bod of nickel when the magnesium has thus en reduced to molten state. Obviously at the temperature indicated the nickel will not become molten in an sense. However, if the conditions descri ed be maintained, a sufiicient amount of magnesium is absorbed b the nickel particles to form an alloy re atively high in nickel and low in magnesium, the operation Application filed August 9, 192:. Serial No. 858,547.

being preferably carried to a point wheree magnesium content is approximately ten to forty-five (10-45) per cent.

When the desired stage of absorption is attained, the supernatant molten magnesium is poured off and the nickel particles will then be found readily pulverizable. They may indeed be crushed in an ordinary mortar, but an well known typeof pulverizing or grin ing device or mill may be utilized, depending upon the quantity of material to be handled. In carrying out the heating and alloying operation just described a suitable flux, for example one made up of approximately equal parts of anhydrous magnesium chloride and sodium chloride, should be employed as a covering and protection for the magnesium, a small amount of barium chloride being added to such flux mixture, if found necessary, in order to give it the proper specific gravity.

Where the final product is to be the powdered nickel by itself, the alloy pulverized as aforesaid is heated in a suitable vessel to a temperature at which the magnesium is distilled ofl', whereupon substantially pure nickel in powdered form is left behind. If, on the other hand, it is desired to roceed with the making of an alloy containing a relatively lar e proportion of magnesium, the pulverized material with small content of magnesium, as just stated, is next interfused with a body of magnesium which may be first rendered molten and such pulverized material gradually fed thereto. The relative amounts of magnesium and of such pulverized material may be selected so as to give immediately an alloy having the desired proportion of each metal, or the operation may be divided into a succession of two or more steps, an alloy richer in nickel than desired in the ultimate product being first formed and such alloy then added to a second body of magnesium. In any case the advantage of having the nickel or high nickel alloy in powdered form will be evident since as a result'such nickel will be interfused throughout the molten mass and will not dro to the bottom or entirel through and Into the body of flux in whic the magnesium is desirably floated when the final light metal alloy is being prepared.

As soon as the introduction of the nickel allo has been efiected, the whole mass is we puddled and the operation may then be regarded as complete and the molten alloy cast either into ingots or directly into the form of the mechanical parts for which it is intended to be used.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the method herein disclosed, provided the step or steps stated by any of the following clalms or t e equivalent of such stated step or steps be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention v 1. In a method of the character described, the step which consists in heating together metallic nickel and magnesium at a temperature below the melting point of the former but above that of the latter until sufiicient magnesium is absorbed by the nickel to render same readily pulverizable.

2. In a method of the character described, the steps which consist in heating together metallic nickel and magnesium at a temperature below the melting point of the former but above that of the latter until sufiicient magnesium is absorbed by the nickel to render same readily pulverizable, then separating such nickel from the molten magnesium, and reducing same to powdered form.

3. In a method of the character described, the steps which consist in heating together a quantity of nickel in fragmentary form together with suflicient magnesium to cover same when such magnesium is molten, the temperature being raised to a point above the melting point of the magnesium but below that o the nickel, pouring off the molten ma esium when the nickel has absorbed su cient thereof to be readily pulyerizable, and reducing same to powdered orm.

4. In a method of the character described, the steps which consist in heating togther a quantity of nickel in fragmentary form together with sufiicient magnesium to cover same when such magnesium is molten, the temperature being raised to a point above the melting point of the magnesium but below that of the nickel, pouring off the molten mahgnesium when the nickel has absorbed su cient thereof to be readily pulverizable, reducin same to powdered form, and finall interfusing such powdered nickel alloy with a relatively large body of magnesium, whereby a magnesium nickel alloy containing a predominating proportion of magnesium is formed.

5. In a method of the character described, the steps which consist in heating together a quantity of nickel in fragmentary form together with sufiicient magnesium to cover same when such magnesium is molten, the temperature being raised to a point above the melting point of the magnesium but below that of the nickel, pouring off the molten magnesium when the nickel has absorbed suflicient thereof to be readily pulverizable, reducing same to powdered form, and finally interfusing such powdered nickel alloy, adding such powdered nickel alloy in graduated amounts to a relatively large body of molten magnesium, whereby a magnesium-nickel alloy containing a predominating proportion of magnesium is formed.

Signed by me, this 2nd day of August,

WILLIAM R. VEAZEY. 

